Heavy rain cripples life in Tamil Nadu

Heavy rain continued to lash entire Tamil Nadu for the third day on Monday due to the formation of low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, while  weathermen predicted a downpour for the next 24 hours.

“A trough of low pressure, which has turned into a well-marked low pressure area over  the Bay of Bengal off Sri Lanka coast still persists. Under its influence heavy rain is likely to occur at most places over south Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours”, a senior Met official here said.

He said the low pressure might turn into a deep depression, which is expected to move in a westerly direction.

Normal life was affected in several parts of Tamil Nadu due to the heavy rain since Friday afternoon after the North East monsoon set in over South India two weeks ago. The state government declared a holiday for schools and colleges in southern districts in the state on Monday.

The Met official said fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours.

The latest weather bulletin said heavy to very heavy rain would occur over southern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Isolated heavy rain may occur over remaining parts of the State, starting 8:30 am on Monday, it said.

Utthamapallayam in Theni district received a maximum of 6 cm rainfall during the last 24 hours followed by Nagapattinam district which recorded five cm downpour during the same period.